Blocked by freight derailment, Amtrak Auto Train arrives almost 30 hours late in Sanford

CSX freight train hit a vehicle in South Carolina, blocking the tracks

The Amtrak Auto Train. (Amtrak)

ORLANDO, Fla. – A freight train derailment in South Carolina caused a cascade of problems for Amtrak this week, forcing hundreds of passengers on the Amtrak Auto Train to arrive a day late.

The auto train left Lorton, Virginia, Monday afternoon on its way to Sanford, Florida, but had to stop its journey after a CSX freight train hit an unoccupied vehicle on the tracks in Lake City, South Carolina, according to the Washington Post, affecting two locomotives and 25 rail cars.

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Amtrak provided meals and snack packs for the passengers. The train arrived in Sanford Wednesday.

As a result, Amtrak had to cancel its Tuesday Auto Train service as well.

The derailment also forced Amtrak to detour the Silver Meteor Train, forcing it to miss stops in the Carolinas. That train runs between Miami and New York and includes stops in the Orlando area.

The Amtrak Auto Train service carries both passengers and their cars between Sanford and Lorton, which is outside of Washington, D.C.

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About the Author

Christie joined the ClickOrlando team in November 2021.

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